Manufacture of fastening devices



July 7, 1942.

W. O. HANSEN ETAL MANUFACTURE 0F FASTENNG DEVICES Original Filed Aug. 13. 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY July 7 1942- w. o. HANSEN Erm.V 2,289,268

MANUFACTURE OF FASTENING DEVICES Original Filed Aug. 1,3, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y July 7, 1942.

MANUFACTURE OF FASTENING DEVICES Original Filed Aug. 13, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 'BY/@ad l.

July 7, 1942. w. o. HANSEN ETAL 42,289,268

MANUFACTURE OF FASTENING DEVICES Original Filed Aug. 13, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

.July 7 1942. w. Q. HANSEN mL 2,289,268

MANUFACTURE 0F FASTENING DEVICES Grginal E 'iled Aug. 13, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY July 7 1942 w. o. HANSEN Erm. 2,289,268

MANUFACTURE OF FASTENING DEVICES Original Filed Aug. 15, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 7, 1942. w. o. HANSEN Em 2,289,268

MANUFACTURE OF FSTENING DEVICES 46 Original Filed Aug. 13, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 46.7/ .5 l j r B i F7/4 y g L I I I I I I I 63 I I Il ,1| /;\'I ld; Pk: L 6'7- ii I l I 4,/ ,I l, 74 in 7 .166 64 I 7l f k jg/l ,82

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE MANUFACTURE oF FASTENING DEVICES William O. Hansen and Theodore W, Swanson, Detroit, Mich aSSisnOrs to Universal Button Fastening Ala Button Company, Detroit, a corporation of Michigan Original application August 13, V1938,--Serial No. 224,670. Divided and this application July 15, 1940', Serial No. 345,502

2 Claims. (Cl. 10 161) This invention relates to the assembly of com vposite fastening devices such as buttonsl fasteners and the like,y and among other objects aims to provide a method for assembling fastening devices of this character with their elements in prede-V termined relation.

This case is a division of application Serial No. 224,670, filed Aug. 13, 1938.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative method of assembly embodying the invention and produced vby the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan View on a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation onfa larger scale taken on the plane 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale taken on the plane 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale taken on the plane 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 illus- Fig. 11 is a sectional lelevation taken on the plane II-II of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the fastener raceway;

Figs. l2, 13 and 14 are views similar to that of Fig. 11; illustrating the orienting mechanism in different positions;

Figs. 15 and 16 are perspective views of elements of the orienting mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an element for deforming the disc to prevent relative rotation;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a disc forming one of the elements of the illustrative fastening device;

Fig. 19 is an elevation of a pronged fastener element;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the top of a fastening device; and

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the assembled fastening device.

The illustrative fastening device is characterized by a top 22 exhibiting thereon a symbol or design in the form of a trade-mark II, here represented by the letter 11" embossed orimpressed in the sheet metal of which the top is composed. The. illustrative apparatus assembles the top on the fastening device in predetermined position tol facilitate its attachment to the garment With the trade-mark in upright position.

The fastening ldevice is here represented by a pronged fastener adapted to penetrate the garf ment and to be upset within and thereby attach an element on the oppositeface of the garment. The character of thefastening device to Which the top is applied may varygreatly depending upon its function. The fastening device is, in this instance, provided with two prongs I2 and I3, prong I3 being slightly longer than prong I2 which give to the above an asymmetrical shape by means of which it may be oriented as presently described. The top is assembled on the fastener in a predetermined position relative to the prongs.

To enlarge the eiective size/of the head or top of the fastener, a discrI4 havingV a central opening I5 Vis-appliedto the head -I6 of the fastener to which the top is directly applied, the head I6 lying between the-disc and the top. The top carries a rim or skirt I8 adapted to be curled over the disc (see Fig. 21). Preferably the disc I4 is also provided with a skirt I'l to facilitate handling and feeding of the discs. The diameter of the skirt is preferably such as to be a press fit inside the skirt of the top. In completing the assembly of the-fastener, both skirts I'I and I8 are simultaneously curled by a curling or crimping die (see Fig. 21). Preferably the opening I5 in thedisc is 'such as'to provide a -press fit over the prongs I2 Iand. I3. The central portion I9 ofthe disc is Vadvantageously offset to provide a recess for the `fastenerhead I6. The latter is preferably rounded to conform with the contour of the top. To prevent changing ofthe predetermined relation of the'trade-mark II to the plane of the prongs I2 and I3, `the central portion I9 of the disc is advantageously indented or prick punched as at To facilitate assembly, the skirt I8 of the top is temporarily distorted or given an irregularity such as an outwardly bent lip 2I having a predetermined relation to the trade-mark. This irregularity is advantageously formed during the process of manufacture of the top and preferably simultaneously with the embossing of the trademark or design to insure definite relation between the two. The distortion is preferably of such a character as to be subsequently obliterated; in this instance this occurs upon the curling of the skirt in the assembling operation. The final fastening device, therefore, is without any blemishes or irregularities. For buttons and other types of fastening devices, the relation of the design to the other elements of the button depends upon the characterlof the button or of the fastening device.

In the illustrative assembling apparatus, tops 22 are delivered to the assembling mechanism with the irregularity or lip 2l in a predetermined position. Thereafter the fasteners (assembled with the disc I4) are deposited in the top with the fastener prongs I2 and I3 in a predetermined relation relative to the irregularity 2I on the top. A compressing operation forces the disc tightly into the top and prevents relative rotational displacement of the parts during the interval preceding curling of the skirt I8 and completion of the assembly. In this instance the irregularity is obliterated simultaneously and with the same die as curls the skirt.

The completed fasteners may then be attached by an appropriate attaching machine which feeds the fasteners with the long and short prongs in predetermined relation to attaching position, thereby insuring attachment to the garment with the trademark II upright on the garment.

In the illustrative apparatus, the tops 22 are supplied from a conventional rotary hopper (not shown) and discharged into an inclined chute or raceway 23. The discharge openings in the hopper are designed to pass the tops only when the inside is uppermost and the irregularity 2| is either in front or to the rear. When thus discharged, the tops travel by gravity down the raceway.

Means for orienting the tops to bring the irregularity or lip 2l into a predetermined position for assembly are, in this instance, incorporated in the raceway. In oriented position the top is discharged from the raceway into a cyclically operating assembly device, in this instance in the form of a rotating dial 24 provided with notches or slots 25 in its periphery of a size and shape to hold the oriented rtops (see Figs. 3 and 6). The function of the assembly device is to receive and carry the fastener elements through the assembly operations, and it may have Various forms. Y

The aforesaid orienting mechanism exerts friction on the advancing tops to rotate the latter and in this instance employs an advancing device in the form of a finger 2B to push the lowerniost top through a portion of the raceway designed to` rotate the top (in this case in a clockwise direction, see Fig. until the lip 2I arrives at a predetermined position, in this case abutting the portion 21 of finger.26. The extremity of the latter is providedV with a slot which separatesv the portions 28 and 21, the latter being offset inwardly (see Fig. 10) to allow the lip 2i to rotate freely into the notch 29. In the latter position, its rotation is arrested by `engagement with the portion 21 Yof theiinger.

To produce the aforesaid rotation of the top during its forward advance, the raceway is provided with a movable rail section 30 pivoted at 3| and pressed against the top by leaf spring 32. The inner face of the rail is given a V-shaped contour 33 adapted to engage the upper and lower edges of the skirt I8 in such a way so as very materially to increase the frictional resistance on the skirt as compared to that of the opposite stationary rail 34 which is advantageously formed of a hardened and highly polished piece of steel to impose relatively little frictional resistance to passage of the top. The differential friction thus applied to the opposite edges of the top by rails 30 and 34 thereby results in a clockwise rotation of the top as it descends in the raceway.

To the rear of the orienting mechanism, the column of tops is brought to rest against a retractible stop pin 35 (an element of the illustrative releasing mechanism) resiliently pressed into the path of the tops by the leaf spring 36. The releasing mechanism is here shown as comprising a pusher 31 (see Fig. 6) pivoted to operating lever 38 and held in the position shown in Fig. 6 against stop pin 39 by a formed wire spring 40. Lever 38 is pivoted at 4I and oscillated by the double-lobed cam 42 mounted on cam shaft 43. On retraction of pusher 31, its extremity enters a top and, on engagement with its skirt on its forward movement, forces the top past the stop pin 35, In this operation the spring 40 allows the pusher to follow the path of the top shown in Fig. '1, and spring 44 connected to lever 38 operates to raise the latter and hold the same in operative relation with cam 42.

Finger 25 is also operated by lever 38, being here shown adjustably connected to a supporting aim 45 pivoted to the extremity of lever 38. A formed wire spring 4G presses finger 26 into the raceway but allows the finger to change its angular position relative to the lever during itsl travel down the raceway. Spring 46 is anchored at 41 to a hub 48 on lever 38, and its free extremity rests in a slot in stud 49. On return movement of lever 38 nger 26 is appropriately cammed or raised out of the raceway to clear the top previously advanced by finger 31. The camming device is here represented by a Wire spring 5D anchored at 5I and lying in the path of the finger 26. The free extremity of the spring is provided with an offset hook 52 to limit the inward movement of the spring. The finger in moving to the rear is cammed up by its engagement with the lower free extremity of the spring and thereby moves on its return travel above the raceway. At the limit of its return it clears the offset 53 in the spring and again returns to the raceway behind the previously released top. On its forward-travel the finger displaces the spring 50 and carries a top through the above-described orienting operation and deposits the same in a recess 25 in the dial with the lip 2| located at the periphery of the dial 24.

`'I'he dial is rotated step by step (counterlclockwise) thereby'moving the tops past the extremities of leaf springs 54 and 55 which drag across the face of the skirts I8 and serve to maintain the lips 2l in their predetermined position against the trailing edge of the notches of the dial. As shown in Fig. 3, the notches or slots 25 are so shaped as to prevent rotation of the tops beyond this point. Springs 56 and 51 are curved to bear against the peripheryv of the dial and maintain a-frictional drag on the I ims of the tops to hold them in properly adjusted position until initial assembly of the elements has been completed.

The pronged fasteners and their discs are assembled and inserted into the oriented tops in a position about 90 beyond the raceway 23 (see Fig. 3). Mechanism is provided for orienting the fastener prongs to position the longer prong in advance of the shorter prong, in which position the fastener' with its assembled disc is moved laterally into a top in receiving position by devices which maintain predetermined location of the fastener prongs.

One form of fastener orienting mechanism utilizing the asymmetrical shape of the fastener is illustrated in Figs. l1 to 16. Fasteners are supplied from a conventional hopper and discharged therefrom into the raceway 5S with one prong in advance of the other. The relation of shorter to longer prong, however, is a random arrangement, in some instances the longer prong is in advance and in others the shorter prong. For convenience in illustration, the longer prong i3 is diagrammatically represented in plan view in the figures as a solid circle (Fig. 3).

The column of fasteners is brought to rest against a spring pressed pin 59. To release one fastener at a time, pin 59 is reciprocated alternately relatively to spring pressed pin (50 separated by approximately the spacing of the fasteners in the raceway. The stop pins are alternately inserted and withdrawn from the raceway by a lever 6| pivoted at 52 between the pins. The upper end of the lever is normally pressed outwardly by leaf spring 63. A complete cycle of oscillation of the lever serves to release a single fastener which falls upon stop gate 64 pressed inwardly by leaf spring 65 and carrying a pin 65 bearing against pin 61 on lever 6| by which the stop is moved outwardly to allow a fastener to fall into the orienting device.

Lever 8| is operated by a reciprocating slide bar 68 having a bevelled cam extremity 69 and connected by screw 10 to a reciprocating slide 1|. Forward movement of the bar displaces the lower end of lever 6|. Upon return movement of the bar, spring 53 restores the lever to its initial position. Spring 63 is of sufficient strength to overcome the counteracting force of spring 55. The orienting device is in this instance carried by lever 9|. It is in the form of a shelf carrying a notch 12 of a length sufficient to receive the shorter leg of the fastener but not long enough to receive the longer leg. If, as illustrated in Figs. 1l and 12, a fastener be released by gate 60 with its shorter leg lowermost, the latter will fall into notch 12. When the lower end of lever 6| is moved outwardly, the shorter prong of the fastener is carried laterally, thus allowing the fastener to rotate in a clockwise direction (see Fig. 13) to bring the longer prong lowermost, Continued outward movement of lever 6| brings the shorter prong in engagement with the projection 13 which ejects the prong from the recess l2. Projection 13 is an integral part of a hardened steel plate 14 adjustably connected to the face of the raceway.

If, as illustrated in Fig. 14, the gate 64 releases the fastener with its longer prong lowermost, the latter rests against a ledge 15 at the end of notch 12 and is prevented thereby from falling into notch 12. The longer prong, therefore, cannot be moved laterally upon retraction of the lower end of lever` 5| but is instead stripped from the ledge 15 by engagement with the stationary porplane.

tion of the raceway andthereupon falls withthe longer prong lowermost into the lower portion of the raceway. Thus the fasteners are always presented with the longer prong in leading position.

As here shown, the fastener raceway 58 is formed from two similar halves detachably secured together by screws 16. One of the aforesaid halves carries a foot portion 411 Vlocated in proper position bypin 18 (Figs. 3 and 4).

The plate 19 on which the raceway is mounted is slotted to continue the raceway passage, the latter being provided with a right angle curved portion 83 to guide the fastener into a horizontal Plate 19 is detachably secured to the bed of the apparatus by screws 8 I.

When a fastener is oriented and released as aforesaid, it comes to rest in the lower portion of the raceway passage upon a reciprocating slide 82 (Fig. 4) which eventuallyretracts, allowing the fastener to slide bygravity down the curved passage 83 to come to rest in front of the slide 82. Slide 82 is adjustably connected to slide 1| (Fig. 4) by a screw 84 and an elongated slot 85. Slide 1| isreciprocated by lever -86 (Figs. 2 and 4) pivoted at 81 and having a portion 88 thereof bearing against operating cam 89 carried on main shaft 90. Spring 9| maintains operative engagement with the cam 89 and serves to operate the slide on its forward stroke, thereby avoiding damage in the event an element becomes jammed.

Upon forward movement of slide 82, the oriented fastener is advanced thereby in vertical registry with a disc with which it is to be assembled. In such position it is grasped by the longer leg in jaws 92 which have a recess therein to grasp the longer leg of the fastener. The jaws are pivoted at 93 (Figs. 3 and 4) to'the plate 19 and are resiliently pressed together by springs 94 (Fig. 3). The fastener is thus held in position 95 (Fig. 4) seated on a vertically movable plunger 96 kpreparatory to assembly with the disc |11.

Plunger 96 is detachably secured by screw 91 to a 'vertically slidable block whose lower end carries a camroll 98 held in contact with cam 99 by compression spring |00. Cam 99 is carried on main shaft 90. On elevation by plunger 96, the fastener head cams open jaws 92 by engagement with the conically shaped counter bore |0| thereof (Fig. 5).

The discs may be fed to assembly position by any appropriate feeding mechanism of which that herein illustrated is one form. The discs are supplied to raceway |02 (Figs 1 and 2) from a hopper (not shown) in which they are promiscuously deposited. The hopper opening is conventionally designed to permit escape of the discs into the raceway only when their skirts |1 are uppermost. The discs gravitate downwardly in the raceway, the lowermost disc being arrested by stop pin |03 carried by spring |04. Cooperating with pin |03 to release one disc at a time is pin |05 carried by an elongated flat spring |06 and spaced longitudinally of the raceway by a distance equivalent approximately to the diameter of the disc. When pin |05 enters the raceway, it retracts pin |03 by engagement with projection |01 releasing the lowermost disc. Pin |05 is retracted by an extension |08 Whose offset |09 is engaged by pin ||0 carried by slide The latter slide is reciprocated by lever ||2 pivoted at 3 to a portion of the machine frame and carrying a cam roll bearing against side face cam ||4 on main shaft 90. A spring I6 connected to lever ||2 functions to advance slide When the latteris retracted, the pin |03 again enters the raceway. Spring |06 is sufficiently strong to overcome resistance of spring |04 in the aforesaid operation.

After release, the disc gravitates between a pair of horizontally reciprocating fingers I |1 representing means for transferring the assembled disc and fastener to an oriented top. The fingers reciprocate within a housing ||8 (secured to the bed 80 of the machine by .screws |20) to which the lower extremity of raceway |02 is keyed by the member |2|. The latter and the housing ||8 are provided with an opening |22 through which the discs fall intobevelled jaws |28. The latter are pivoted upon slide and are resiliently pressed together by spring |23.

While a fastener is being pressed through the opening in the disc the latter is resiliently held in the jaws by mechanism represented by plunger |24 (Fig. 5). The latter is provided with a pair of bores |25 into which the fastener prongs project, thereby maintaining the orientation of the fastener during this operation. Upon completion of this assembly operation, the fastener and disc are moved laterally into registration with a top in dial 24 into which the disc and fastener are pushed by plunger |26. To effect the aforesaid transfer of the assembled disc and fastener, the fingers ||1 are provided with a pair of recesses (Fig. 3) separated by the distance between plungers |24 and |26. The mechanism for operating plunger 24 causes the latter to dwell in its lower position against the disc (Fig. while the fingers are being retracted to permit the disc to be grasped in the forward recess |21 in the ngers. The rear opening in the fingers is bevelled at |28 to provide a cam surface by which the fingers are separated (as the latter are retracted) by the disc while the latter is held by plunger |24. After the plunger has withdrawn, the fingers advance to carry the assembled disc and fastener into registry with the top as aforesaid. In such position the plunger |26 descends and pushes the disc and fastener into the top.

Plungers |24 and |26 are operated in synchronism with plunger 96 and associated mechanism by any appropriate actuating devices. Those here shown are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Power is supplied through a lever |29, pivoted at |30 to a fixed point on the apparatus. The lever is in turn operated by pins |3| projecting from pulley 32 and adapted periodically to elevate the lever. The return movement of the latter is effected by spring |33 (Fig. 1). Pulley |32 is driven from the half-speed shaft 43.

The opposite end of lever |29 is provided with a fork |34 which embraces pin |35 carried in plunger head |36. Plunger |26 is threaded into head |36 and held in -adjusted position by a lock nut (Fig. 5) Both plungers |24 and |26 are supported in and guided by bracket |31 secured at |38 to the bed of the machine. Head |36 carries a lateral extension |39 embracing a reduced portion on plunger |24 by means of which the latter is raised. Springs |40 connected to its upper portion |4| serve to effect the downward travel of the plunger. In its lower position, extension |39 is separated a distance 42 from the upper portion |4|, thereby effecting a lost motion in the operation of plunger |24 by means of which the latter is permitted to dwell in engagement with the disc |4 during the retractio of fingers |1. f

The lower end of plunger |24 is provided with a pair of fastener leg recesses which maintain the fastener legs against displacement during assembly of the fastener with the disc. A pin |43 carried by bracket |31 and travelling in a groove |44 in the plunger (see Fig. 5) serves to prevent the latter from rotating and to maintain the alignment of the bores |25. The lower end of plunger |26 is recess-ed as at |45 to receive the fastener legs during pressing of the disc into a top (see Fig. 5). Although the plunger |24 has a period of lost motion, the cycles of operation of plungers |24 and |25 are the same. Thus when plunger |24 holds a disc against the upward pressure of plunger 96, plunger |26 simultaneously presses a preceding assembled fastener and disc downwardly from fingers 1 into a subjacent top.

The disc advantageously has a press fit in the top and after it, together with the fastener, has been thus assembled with the top the danger of relative displacement has passed and it is no longer necessary to guard against displacement of the top in the dial 24.

After assembly, as aforesaid, the skirt of the top, and in this instance the skirt of the disc,

are curled or crimped inwardly to fasten the disc tightly in place and clamp the fastener head between the disc and the top. In the present instance, the disc is also indented as at 20 to anchor the fastener prongs against relative rotation. In the present instance, the curling operation also obliterates the irregularity 2| by which the top was oriented.

One form of curling mechanism is illustrated in Figs. l and 5. A curling die |46 vertically adjustable in block |41 is adapted to curl over the top as aforesaid when the assembly is elevated by plunger |48. The latter is adjustably mounted on slidable block |49 carrying at its lower end a cam roll bearing against cam |50. It is advantageously positively retracted in this instance by a rocking lever |5| whose end |52 engages a shoulder |53 on the block. The lever is pivoted at |54 and its opposite end projects into a recess in slide |55 guided by block |56. The lower end of the slide carries a cam roll 51 which travels on cam |58.

Curling die |46 is adjustably seated against a hollow headed screw |59 threaded into block |41. Inside the screw and the bore of die |46 operates a tool |60 in the form of a sleeve for ndenting the disc as at 20 to lock the fastener prongs against relative displacement. The end of the tool in this instance is provided with three sharpened projections |6| for this purpose. Intermediate its ends, it is shouldered as at |62 to provide a seat for spring |63 and to limit the forward travel of the tool. Its inward travel is adjustably limited by a hollow screw |64 threaded inside the screw |59 and adapted to provide a seat for the tool to provide adequate resistance for the indenting operation (Fig. 5). Spring |63 is made suiiiciently strong to serve as a means for stripping the finished article from the die on retraction of plunger |46. A rod |65 located inside the bore of the tool is advantageously provided for positively stripping any article which may have become stuck in the die. The spring |66 bearing against a shoulder |61 on the rod serves to assist in the stripping operation. The free end of the rod projects above screw |64 and provides a means by which positive stripping may, if necessary, be effected.

The stripping operation returns the completed fastener to the slot in the dial by which the fastener is ultimately carried into registry with opening |68 in the bed Sil of the machine and through it drops into an appropriate receptacle.

The dial is given a step by step operation by any appropriate means functioning in synchronism with the various operations above described. That here shown is in the form of a ratchet clutch comprising members |59 and i153. The former is secured to stud shaft |1| to which the dial is connected by means of key |12 and nut |13 (Figs. 2 and 5). is carried on a stub shaft Hd, the upper end cf which is centered inside the clutch member |9. The clutch member |10 is resiliently pressed into engagement with member its by means of a spring |15 seated inside the stub shaft and pressing against a plunger having a rounded end bearing against a fixed support on the apparatus. The shaft is oscillated by a lateral offset |16 carrying a cam roller bearing against a side face operating cam E11 mounted on main shaft i 9B. Spring |18 connected to the oset portion |16 serves to maintain operative contact with cam |11.

The periodic oscillation thus produced in clutch member |15 serves to advance the dial slot by slot at the proper instant, During the idle oscillation of the clutch member Il, the teeth on the latter are cammed downwardly against the pressure of spring |15.

The dial 2li is vertically aligned relative to fingers I |1 by a counter-bored gauge plate |19 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) secured to bed Si) by screws I 3U.

Power is supplied by belt to loose and fast pulleys ISI and |32, respectively, on shaft Si). The half-speed shaft 133 is driven from shaft 90 by means of chain sprockets |83 and ld and chain |85. Pulley |86 and belt |81, driven by the half-speed shaft, drive the hopper for supplying the tops. Pulley |33 and belt |89 similarly drive the hopper for supplying the discs. and belt I9@ drive the hopper for supplying the fasteners.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative method since these may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention Lower clutch member |19 Pulley |32 J be used conjointly since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations.

n Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The method of assembling a sheet metal top bearing a design With and in predetermined relation to a fastening device Whose body is of asymmetrical shape which comprises temporarily distorting a portion of the marginal crimping flange of the top at a point in predetermined relation to the design on the top, utilizing the said distorted portion to orient the top in a predetermined relation relative to the fastening device to be subsequently assembled therewith, orienting the said fastening device by means of its asymmetrical shape and independently of the top into a predetermined position relative to said top, assembling the oriented top and fastening device with the design on the top in predetermined relation to the asymmetrical shape of said fastening device, and then crimping the top on the said fastening device and removing the distorted portion of the flange by restoring the flange to its initial condition.

2. The method of assembling a flanged sheet metal top bearing a design in predetermined relation with a fastener body of asymmetrical shape having attaching elements which require orientation for attachment to a garment which comprises temporarily distorting a portion of the flange of the top at a point in predetermined relation to the design on the top, orienting the top by means of the distorted portion to a predetermined position in relation to the fastener body to be assembled therewith, orienting the fastener body by means of its asymmetrical shape to a predetermined position relative to said top, then assembling the oriented top and fastener body with the design on the top in a predetermined relation to the asymmetrical shape of the fastener body, and then crimping the top on the fastener body and removing the distortion in the nange.

WILLIAM O. HANSEN. THEODORE W. SWANSON, 

